HOUSTON, Texas – Colgate softball was stifled by two power five opponents in its season-opening doubleheader, falling to Rutgers, 9-1, and Houston, 10-0. Fifth-year shortstop Rachel Carney scored the Raiders' only run of the day and reached base three times with a trio of walks, while senior infielder Elizabeth Nitka registered Colgate's only two hits.
Game 1 - Colgate 1, Rutgers 9
Colgate struck first when Carney showed off her speed in the top of the first, stealing second and then advancing when the Scarlet Knights shortstop erred on an Adrienne Nardone chopper.
Rutgers responded, however, putting up four runs on four hits to take a 4-1 lead after the first inning.
The Raiders went down in order throughout the next two innings, minus a Nitka single and Jillian Herbst walk, as they struggled to find their groove against Rutgers' Mattie Boyd in the circle.
The Scarlet Knights blew the game open in the fourth, tacking on five more insurance runs with five hits. Subbing in for Colgate's starter Bailey Misken, Mia Edwards stopped the bleeding after forcing a groundout to short that ended the inning.
With the mercy rule looming, Carney found a way on base for the second time in the game to give the Raiders a runner on first with two outs, but Colgate could not cut into the deficit and fell in the season-opener, 9-1.
Game 2 - Colgate 0, Houston 10
The Raiders again fell behind quickly after a four-run second inning from Houston. Colgate's bats were silenced by the Cougars' Tamya Waiter who struck out four of the first seven Raider batters.
Nitka was the first to break through for the Raiders, logging her second hit of the day, and Colgate's first hit of the game, in the top of the third.
The Cougars continued to add to their lead in the third and fourth innings. Down double-digits, the Raiders could not steal any scores back, and fell for the second-straight game, 10-0.
UP NEXT
The Raiders return to action with games against Illinois State at 11 a.m. and Rutgers at 6 p.m.
